Kari Loya. Courtesy: Austin Jewish Academy

After a careful search, Austin Jewish Academy (AJA) was excited to announce that Kari Loya will be Interim Head of School at the AJA beginning June 5. Loya says he is excited to start meeting with parents, teachers and community members throughout the month.

This process was made possible by the many parents, teachers and community members who took time to meet with each candidate. AJA expressed gratitude to all, especially the search committee which includes Barb Altman, Treva Horowitz, Rachel Stern and Alana Dugandzic. Loya brings an impressive and unique skill set that aligns with the school’s most urgent needs and he will play a critical role in charting our path forward.

Loya has extensive experience across the educational spectrum, as a teacher in bilingual classrooms, as a fundraiser and as an administrator. At The Dwight School in New York, he served as director of institutional advancement, where among other accomplishments, he increased the dollars raised ten-fold, while also drastically increasing the number of donors. He then went on to serve as head of school at Good Hope Country Day School, where he stabilized a financial crisis and oversaw hurricane responses while building successful alumni and donor programs.

Loya graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College as a history major and then earned his California multi-subject teaching credential from Chapman University in Orange County and later an MBA from Columbia University. In 2017, he was recognized as a Klingenstein Fellow for Heads of School at Teacher’s College at Columbia.

Most significantly, Loya has served as the coach/consultant to Heather Kantrowitz, Brooke Dunshee and the Operating Committee since he was recommended to AJA in February. In that capacity, AJA has had the opportunity to work closely with him and appreciate his calm, methodical approach to tackling big challenges.

Kantrowitz and Stern say they are both excited to work closely and regularly with Loya and ensure he’s set up for success leading the community Jewish day school.